Dtsch Arztebl Int
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Open spinal dysraphism is a congenital malformation that causes major morbidity. Its consequences include sensory and motor impairment as well as bladder- and bowel dysfunction. It is often also associated with prenatal ventriculomegaly, which, in turn, necessitates postnatal treatment with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in approximately 80% of cases. Prenatal therapy with coverage of neural tube defect can reduce the shunt rate and preserve motor function. In this review, we describe the different surgical procedures and their outcomes. ⋯ Prenatal surgery improves motor function and reduces the shunt rate but long-term outcomes beyond adolescence are still lacking. Transparent and interdisciplinary counseling is essential in prenatal communication to inform parents not only about the potential benefits of this treatment, but also about its limitations and risks.
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Lung transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage nonmalignant lung disease. It has become a routine procedure through advances in donor lung preservation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, immunosuppression, intensive care medicine, and follow-up care. ⋯ Despite all the advances in lung transplantation, acute and - above all - chronic graft dysfunction still pose a major challenge for large-volume transplantation centers. Immunosuppression that is individually tailored to prevent both graft rejection and infection is important for these patients' long-term survival. Xenotransplantation and so-called lung bioengineering may become available in the future as alternatives to allotransplantation.
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Intelligence is defined as general mental capacity, which includes the abilities to reason, solve new problems, think abstractly, and learn quickly. Genetic factors explain a considerable fraction of inter-individual differences in intelligence. For many years, research on intelligence was limited to estimating the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors, without identifying any individual causal factors. ⋯ At present, the polygenic scores generated from genome-wide association studies are primarily of scientific interest, yet they are becoming increasingly informative and valid for individual prediction. There is, therefore, a need for broad social discussion about their future use.
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Practice Guideline
The Management of Chronic Kidney Disease not Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy in General Practice.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in the German adult population, with a prevalence of 10%. This guideline, updated on the basis of current scientific evidence, contains recommendations for the management of CKD in general practice. ⋯ The risk assessment of CKD and the treatment options have been expanded. The updated guideline can improve primary care for patients with CKD and the selection of patients for interdisciplinary care.
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Approximately 1.4 % of the German population aged 35 to 74 suffers from glaucoma, which is one of the more common causes of blindness. The only evidence-based treatment option at present is lowering the intraocular pressure. Modern minimally invasive surgical procedures hold out the prospect of lowering the intraocular pressure without the risk of serious complications. ⋯ There are robust data documenting the effect of iStent and Hydrus Microshunt in lowering the intraocular pressure and lessening the need for eyedrops. High-quality controlled trials are still needed to test the efficacy of other procedures.